PHOTOS: Moments that defined the world in 2020

A deady virus brought the world to its knees in the year 2020. Economies went into recession, political acumen of many a world leaders was tested, racial discrimination was back in spotlight once again and millions lost their lives and livelihoods. Here a look back at the world in the year 2020.

Dr. Joseph Varon hugs and comforts a patient in the COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) during Thanksgiving at the United Memorial Medical Center on November 26, 2020 in Houston, Texas. According to reports, Texas has reached over 1,220,000 cases, including over 21,500 deaths. (Photo by Go Nakamura/Getty Images)

Dr. Joseph Varon hugs and comforts a patient in the COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) during Thanksgiving at the United Memorial Medical Center on November 26, 2020 in Houston, Texas. According to reports, Texas has reached over 1,220,000 cases, including over 21,500 deaths. (Photo by Go Nakamura/Getty Images)

President-elect Joe Biden greets crowd after his address to the nation from the Chase Center November 07, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. After four days of counting the high volume of mail-in ballots in key battleground states due to the coronavirus pandemic, the race was called for Biden after a contentious election battle against incumbent Republican President Donald Trump. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

President-elect Joe Biden greets crowd after his address to the nation from the Chase Center November 07, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. After four days of counting the high volume of mail-in ballots in key battleground states due to the coronavirus pandemic, the race was called for Biden after a contentious election battle against incumbent Republican President Donald Trump. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Residents look on as Taal Volcano erupts on January 12, 2020 in Talisay, Batangas province, Philippines. Local authorities have begun evacuating residents near Taal Volcano as it began spewing ash up to a kilometer high Sunday afternoon. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has raised the alert level to three out of five, warning of the volcano's continued "magmatic unrest." (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Residents look on as Taal Volcano erupts on January 12, 2020 in Talisay, Batangas province, Philippines. Local authorities have begun evacuating residents near Taal Volcano as it began spewing ash up to a kilometer high Sunday afternoon. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has raised the alert level to three out of five, warning of the volcano's continued "magmatic unrest." (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Construction workers drive excavators at the site of a new 1,000-bed field hospital being built to accommodate the increasing number of coronavirus patients on January 24, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The hospital is set to be completed by February 3, 2020. (Photo by Getty Images)

Construction workers drive excavators at the site of a new 1,000-bed field hospital being built to accommodate the increasing number of coronavirus patients on January 24, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The hospital is set to be completed by February 3, 2020. (Photo by Getty Images)

A man cross an empty highway road on February 3, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. The number of those who have died from the Wuhan coronavirus, known as 2019-nCoV, in China climbed to 361 and cases have been reported in other countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and several others. (Photo by Getty Images)

A man cross an empty highway road on February 3, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. The number of those who have died from the Wuhan coronavirus, known as 2019-nCoV, in China climbed to 361 and cases have been reported in other countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and several others. (Photo by Getty Images)

Animal rescuer Marcus Fillinger carries a bushfire burned kangaroo on February 4, 2020 in Peak View, Australia. The dart gun specialist had tranquilized the wounded animal near a fire-scorched Koala reserve for transport to a recovery center. Networks of wildlife rescuers and caregivers across Australia have responded to the country's historic bushfires, which have killed countless animals. In many affected areas, surviving wildlife are now suffering from near starvation, due to the widespread habitat destruction. Fillinger runs the AlphaDog Animal Army charity for rescuing both domestic animals and wildlife. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Animal rescuer Marcus Fillinger carries a bushfire burned kangaroo on February 4, 2020 in Peak View, Australia. The dart gun specialist had tranquilized the wounded animal near a fire-scorched Koala reserve for transport to a recovery center. Networks of wildlife rescuers and caregivers across Australia have responded to the country's historic bushfires, which have killed countless animals. In many affected areas, surviving wildlife are now suffering from near starvation, due to the widespread habitat destruction. Fillinger runs the AlphaDog Animal Army charity for rescuing both domestic animals and wildlife. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a copy of The Washington Post as he speaks in the East Room of the White House one day after the U.S. Senate acquitted on two articles of impeachment, ion February 6, 2020 in Washington, DC. After five months of congressional hearings and investigations about President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, the U.S. Senate formally acquitted the president on Wednesday of charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a copy of The Washington Post as he speaks in the East Room of the White House one day after the U.S. Senate acquitted on two articles of impeachment, ion February 6, 2020 in Washington, DC. After five months of congressional hearings and investigations about President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, the U.S. Senate formally acquitted the president on Wednesday of charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Police officers patrol near the Eiffel Tower during a government enforced quarantine on March 17, 2020 in Paris, France. On March 17, 2020 France imposed a nationwide lockdown to control the spread of COVID-19. (Photo by Veronique de Viguerie/Getty Images)

Police officers patrol near the Eiffel Tower during a government enforced quarantine on March 17, 2020 in Paris, France. On March 17, 2020 France imposed a nationwide lockdown to control the spread of COVID-19. (Photo by Veronique de Viguerie/Getty Images)

Evianna Van Santvoord, who is in kindergarten, does her schoolwork at home on March 18, 2020 in San Anselmo, California. The school that she attends is closed because of COVID-19. California Governor Gavin Newsom warned yesterday that schools are unlikely to reopen in the coming weeks and will more than likely remain closed until the summer break. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Evianna Van Santvoord, who is in kindergarten, does her schoolwork at home on March 18, 2020 in San Anselmo, California. The school that she attends is closed because of COVID-19. California Governor Gavin Newsom warned yesterday that schools are unlikely to reopen in the coming weeks and will more than likely remain closed until the summer break. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Dr. Anthony Fauci (L) director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, listens to U.S. President Donald Trump speak from the press briefing room with members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force April 1, 2020 in Washington, DC. After announcing yesterday that COVID-19 could kill between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans, the Trump administration is also contending with the economic effects of the outbreak as the stock market continues to fall, businesses remain closed, and companies lay off and furlough employees. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Dr. Anthony Fauci (L) director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, listens to U.S. President Donald Trump speak from the press briefing room with members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force April 1, 2020 in Washington, DC. After announcing yesterday that COVID-19 could kill between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans, the Trump administration is also contending with the economic effects of the outbreak as the stock market continues to fall, businesses remain closed, and companies lay off and furlough employees. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area on September 27, 2020 in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes. Much of Northern California is under a red flag warning for high fire danger through Monday evening. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area on September 27, 2020 in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes. Much of Northern California is under a red flag warning for high fire danger through Monday evening. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Demonstrators embrace each other after hearing the Grand Jury verdict on September 23, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Protesters marched in the streets after the Kentucky Grand Jury verdict indicts 1 of 3 officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor, who was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police officers during a no-knock warrant at her apartment onMarch 13, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Demonstrators embrace each other after hearing the Grand Jury verdict on September 23, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Protesters marched in the streets after the Kentucky Grand Jury verdict indicts 1 of 3 officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor, who was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police officers during a no-knock warrant at her apartment onMarch 13, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

In this aerial view from a drone, people walk through a mobile home park destroyed by fire on September 10, 2020 in Phoenix, Oregon. Hundreds of homes in the town have been lost due to wildfire. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)

In this aerial view from a drone, people walk through a mobile home park destroyed by fire on September 10, 2020 in Phoenix, Oregon. Hundreds of homes in the town have been lost due to wildfire. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)

An injured man rests in a chair after a large explosion on August 4, 2020 in Beirut, Lebanon. Video shared on social media showed a structure fire near the port of Beirut followed by a second massive explosion, which damaged surrounding buildings and injured hundreds. (Photo by Daniel Carde/Getty Images)

An injured man rests in a chair after a large explosion on August 4, 2020 in Beirut, Lebanon. Video shared on social media showed a structure fire near the port of Beirut followed by a second massive explosion, which damaged surrounding buildings and injured hundreds. (Photo by Daniel Carde/Getty Images)

Wearing a face mask to reduce the risk posed by the coronavirus, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden poses for a socially-distanced selfie after delivering remarks about his ‘vision for older Americans’ at Southwest Focal Point Community Center October 13, 2020 in Pembroke Pines, Florida. With three weeks until Election Day, Biden is campaigning in Florida. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Wearing a face mask to reduce the risk posed by the coronavirus, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden poses for a socially-distanced selfie after delivering remarks about his ‘vision for older Americans’ at Southwest Focal Point Community Center October 13, 2020 in Pembroke Pines, Florida. With three weeks until Election Day, Biden is campaigning in Florida. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

A tenant speaks with a Maricopa County constable who arrived with an eviction order on October 7, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. The tenant was able to prove she had paid the rent and the order was withdrawn. Thousands of court-ordered evictions continue nationwide despite a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) moratorium for renters impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Although state and county officials say they have tried to educate the public on the protections, many renters remain unaware and fail to complete the necessary forms to remain in their homes. In many cases landlords have worked out more flexible payment plans with vulnerable tenants, although these temporary solutions have become fraught as the pandemic drags on. With millions of Americans still unemployed due to the pandemic, federal rental assistance proposals remain gridlocked in Congress. The expiry of the CDC moratorium at year's end looms large, as renters and landlord face a potential tsunami of evictions and foreclosures nationwide. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)  

A tenant speaks with a Maricopa County constable who arrived with an eviction order on October 7, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. The tenant was able to prove she had paid the rent and the order was withdrawn. Thousands of court-ordered evictions continue nationwide despite a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) moratorium for renters impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Although state and county officials say they have tried to educate the public on the protections, many renters remain unaware and fail to complete the necessary forms to remain in their homes. In many cases landlords have worked out more flexible payment plans with vulnerable tenants, although these temporary solutions have become fraught as the pandemic drags on. With millions of Americans still unemployed due to the pandemic, federal rental assistance proposals remain gridlocked in Congress. The expiry of the CDC moratorium at year's end looms large, as renters and landlord face a potential tsunami of evictions and foreclosures nationwide. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

A woman with 'BLM' written on her cheek poses for a picture during a demonstration on May 31, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. Across the country, protests have erupted following the recent death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

A woman with 'BLM' written on her cheek poses for a picture during a demonstration on May 31, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. Across the country, protests have erupted following the recent death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

A man holds up a sign near a burning building during protests sparked by the death of George Floyd while in police custody on May 29, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Earlier today, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was taken into custody for Floyd's death. Chauvin has been accused of kneeling on Floyd's neck as he pleaded with him about not being able to breathe. Floyd was pronounced dead a short while later. Chauvin and 3 other officers, who were involved in the arrest, were fired from the police department after a video of the arrest was circulated. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

A man holds up a sign near a burning building during protests sparked by the death of George Floyd while in police custody on May 29, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Earlier today, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was taken into custody for Floyd's death. Chauvin has been accused of kneeling on Floyd's neck as he pleaded with him about not being able to breathe. Floyd was pronounced dead a short while later. Chauvin and 3 other officers, who were involved in the arrest, were fired from the police department after a video of the arrest was circulated. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

A girl holds her fist in the air while visiting the memorial for George Floyd on June 9, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Residents of the community, and people around the world, have come together in calling for an end to police brutality after the death of George Floyd, who was killed while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25th. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

A girl holds her fist in the air while visiting the memorial for George Floyd on June 9, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Residents of the community, and people around the world, have come together in calling for an end to police brutality after the death of George Floyd, who was killed while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25th. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Comet NEOWISE passes over Stonehenge in the early hours of July 21, 2020 in Salisbury, England. Comet NEOWISE, the brightest seen in the Northern Hemisphere in 25 years, was discovered by Nasa’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) mission on March 27. The comet is currently visible after sunset and will have its closest encounter with Earth on July 23 when it will be around 64 million miles away. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Comet NEOWISE passes over Stonehenge in the early hours of July 21, 2020 in Salisbury, England. Comet NEOWISE, the brightest seen in the Northern Hemisphere in 25 years, was discovered by Nasa’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) mission on March 27. The comet is currently visible after sunset and will have its closest encounter with Earth on July 23 when it will be around 64 million miles away. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)